Count of Monterey, 1596 
259 
sion of the doubts that occur to me, which are various, and, as these affairs 
are not in a state to write more at length concerning them, I am leaving 
it for the second despatch-boat, contenting myself with giving an account 
to your Majesty of what I am doing now, and [by stating] that very soon 
I shall come to a decision, in order that if any change is to be made it may 
be carried out. The other matters I will attend to shortly. Your Majesty 
will be pleased to await my letters even though the parties ask for some 
confirmation or cédula, for this will be best for your service until I can 
write. 
In raising men for the Philippine Islands I delayed until the arrival of 
the ship that reached Acapulco on the nineteenth of the past month, ex¬ 
pecting that when the others should arrive there would be letters and 
advices as to how many men it would be necessary to raise this year. 
However, seeing that the ships were late, I resolved to appoint officials of 
sea and war for the recruiting of men and the preparation of the ships. 
This has begun and will go on with all vigor and haste, as likewise the 
despatching of Viceroy Don Luís de Velasco to Peru. In this and in 
beginning measures for collecting the money that is to go by the fleet, I 
expect to spend entirely the days of the Christmas festival. 
May God keep your Majesty. Mexico, December 20, 1595. 
The Count of Monterey. [With rubric.'] 
[On the back is zvritten :] To the king, our lord, in his royal Council 
of the Indies. 
Duplicate. 
Letter from the Count of Monterey to his Majesty. [Mexico, February 28, 
1596^ 
Sir: For the situation that has come about this year in this government 
with the concurrence of expeditions by sea and for war—for those wars 
that may happen here, for aid for the islands of the West, and for the 
explorations of provinces—there was need for a viceroy more experienced 
and expert in these parts and lands than I. But since Viceroy Don Luis 
de Velasco, who properly had such a great part in this, has absented him¬ 
self at the time of the execution, which is usually the most trying and when 
there would be most need of his presence, I have endeavored, with the 
care that I owe, to supply as far as possible his absence. The despatching 
of the ships to the Philippines I believe usually gives its piece of care 
every year to the viceroy, and now there are added the explorations and 
pacifications of New Mexico and the Californias, and the voyage of Vice¬ 
roy Don Luis himself to Peru. Not only has the time been limited for 
the obligations and ordinary occupation which this charge brings, but the 
early and prompt despatch that I wished to give to each expedition has 
been embarrassed by the small supply of tackle for ships which your 
Majesty has in this South Sea. Aside from that of New Mexico, the 
other three expeditions make their journey by sea, and thus there has been 
